Warrington are looking to make it six wins in a row on Friday night as they take on Hull FC at Headingley, but will take to the field with a depleted squad.
Due to two Wakefield players testing positive, Wire are without six of their own squad after track and trace results. Chris Hill, Jack Hughes, Jason Clark, Joe Philbin, Matt Davis and Samy Kibula are all unavailable. Losing six forwards is hard enough, but even worse when you consider that Ben Murdoch-Masila is still suspended and Sitaleki Akauola isn't included in the 21-man-squad after the birth of his child. That means that the 21 includes the likes of Declan Patton and Leilani Latu, both yet to play in 2020, and youngsters such as Keanan Brand, Luis Johnson, Josh Thewlis, Ellis Robson, Connor Wrench and Ellis Longstaff.
Here goes my attempt at a 17...
Full-Back - 1 Stefan Ratchford
In the absence of both co-captains Hill and Hughes, I expect Ratchford to lead the team out for this one. Some may want Matty Ashton to play at full-back but I think we should keep as much stability as possible.
Winger - 2 Tom Lineham
Lineham, Wire's top scorer this season, will definitely keep his place in the team. There may be some call to move Lineham, a big winger, into the pack, but I'd keep him where he is.
Centre - 3 Anthony Gelling
I had expected Gelling to struggle to make it back into the team with Jake Mamo's form, but I think Toby King will move into the second row, which would open a space for Gelling to partner him.
Centre - 17 Jake Mamo
In his two most recent appearances, Mamo has impressed. I would keep him at centre.
Winger - 5 Josh Charnley
Charnley will definitely get picked for this one on the wing, no doubt about that.
Stand-Off - 6 Blake Austin
Fortunately, neither of Wire's two halves are among the missing players, so Austin and Widdop can hopefully continue on their upward trajectory.
Scrum-Half - 7 Gareth Widdop
Widdop is likely to have some different people alongside him but let's hope that he can have a similar influence on the game as in recent matches.
Prop - 16 Leilani Latu
Latu is well overdue his debut and in the absence of Chris Hill, is almost certain to start. It is very hard to know what to expect from him but this is a real test.
Hooker - 9 Daryl Clark
Clark is one player that definitely won't be moved. The hooker is a certainty in a team full of change.
Prop - 10 Mike Cooper
There's no Chris Hill, but Mike Cooper is still available and will have to lead the pack for this one.
Second Row - 4 Toby King
King has spent plenty of his career in the second row and with no Jack Hughes, King will move to the second row again, I think.
Second Row - 11 Ben Currie
Ben Currie has been superb in the second row this season and I expect him to remain there, albeit on the other side to accommodate King's arrival.
Loose Forward - 22 Luis Johnson
Young Johnson has always looked lively when he has played and I hope he plays this one, ideally as a loose forward, although I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the second row either.
Interchange - Ellis Longstaff
We don't have a squad number for Longstaff, but as one of the only forwards in the squad, I expect him to be on the bench.
Interchange - 27 Ellis Robson
We are yet to see Robson play for Wire, but the young forward is likely to be involved here.
Interchange - 20 Danny Walker
Walker is a certain inclusion on the bench for this game - he is the most experienced of all the interchanges.
Interchange - 26 Matty Ashton
Finally to Ashton. I'm sure many will want him to start, but people seem against the idea of him playing as a centre, and I can't see Ratchford, Lineham or Charnley being moved.
Super League Predictions
Wigan to beat Hull KR by 18-23 points
Castleford to beat Salford by 6-11 points
Warrington to beat Hull FC by 1-5 points
St Helens to beat Huddersfield by 12-17 points
@ALooseWire
No comments:
Post a Comment